Lawmakers push for more oversight at Citizens Property Insurance

A freshman legislator from Miami Beach has filed a bill to increase
scrutiny on Citizens Property Insurance Corp. by creating a new inspector
general position at the state-run entity.

Rep. David Richardson,
D-Miami Beach, filed HB 433 on Tuesday, which requires
Citizens to have an Inspector General to look over its affairs.

“After learning of severe
managerial shortcomings at Citizens, including reports of lavish spending on
travel, reports of severance packages for employees with abuse charges, and
unprofessional behavior of staff, I immediately recognized the need for
stronger state oversight,” Richardson
said in a statement.

The bill is similar to one recently filed by Sen. Joe Abruzzo, D-West Palm Beach. Both
Gov. Rick Scott and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater have voiced support
for an independent Inspector General at Citizens.

Last week, Scott’ Chief Inspector General released a report
showing that Citizens executives had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on
expenses in the first eight months of 2012, including several international
trips. Another investigation into the firing of four corporate investigators is
ongoing.

“According to reports in The Miami
Herald late last year, an internal audit brought to light issues at this
company charged with being stewards of public funds,” said Richardson. “The firing of four auditors who
were responsible for reporting these indiscretions and completely disbanding
the Office of Corporate Integrity has led me to believe that officials at
Citizens may think they can operate without accountability, which I find
appalling.”